Negative-rack.



No. 632,876. Patentad Sept. l2, I899. J. W. MEAKER, In.

NEGATIVE RACK.

(Apphcatxon filed Sept 6, 89B 1 {No Model.)

UNITED STATES AIET JOHN \V. MEAKER, JR, OF IVAUKE 1AN, ILLINOIS.

NEGATIVE-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,876, dated September 12, 1899.

Applica iun filed September 6, 1898. Serial No. 690,263. (No model.)

To wZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. JMEAKER, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vaukegan, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Negative-Raclis, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to racks for holding photographic negatives, and is especially designed for the purpose of holding the negatives while washing and drying.

Ileretofore it has been the practice to wash negatives by placing them in a vertical position in a box having suitable inlet and outlet passages, so that a stream of water could be directed through the box, thereby washing the negatives. \Vashing-boxes of this type are, however, quite expensive, and, moreover, they cannot be used for holding the negatives while drying, it being necessary to remove them and place them in a separate rack for thatpurpose. Furthermore, the circ ulation of the water between the different negatives in the box has been impeded by the negatives themselves, owing to their position, the operation of washing being thereby interfered with.

The object of my present invention is to provide a construction of negative-holding rack, which will be adapted to-carry the negatives in a more or less inclined position, and which may be inserted in a bucket ortank or other suitable reservoir for washing purposes,

and may afterward be removed, so that the negatives may be dried withoutbeing taken out of the rack.

A further object is to provide a construction of rack which will be cheap and durable.

I accomplish these objects as illustrated in the drawings and as hereinafter described.

That I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View, and Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking upward.

In the drawings I have shown the most improved form of my negative-rack, which consists of two members or plates arranged in an angular position with reference to each other and connected at one end by a spring connection, giving the entire rack a A shape, each of which plates is provided with an opening within its edges and with a number of arms extending outwardly at the opposite sides of the opening, which arms serve to support the negatives. Such arms are slightly separated from each other, so as to atford room for the insertion of the negatives, and to properly retain the negatives in place a shoulder is provided immediately above each arm, so that the edge of the negative may fit closely between the shoulder and the arm on which it rests. The notches between each arm and the shoulder above it are tapered, or are somewhat A-shaped, so that plates of different thicknesses may fit properly in the rack. This arrangement also prevents, in a great measure, accidental tilting of the negatives after being placed in the rack, as the negatives are held more firmly. By connecting the plates or members adj ustabl y with each other, as above described, the rack is adapted to fit reservoirs of different sizes and shapes, and the position of the plates may be altered as maybe necessary to suit negatives of different sizes.

I will now specifically describe my improved rack by reference to the accompanying drawings.

a b indicate the two plates or members of the rack, which, as shown in Fig. 1, are connected at the top by a spring 0. The members a Z) and the spring 0- are preferably integral with each other, the whole device being stamped out of asingle sheetof metal. Marginal flanges dare provided to strengthen the members a h, and the lower ends of said members are flared or bent outwardly, as shown in the drawings, to prevent tipping of the rack in case one side is heavily loaded and the other is not. Each member or plate is provided with a double row of arms 6, arranged near its opposite edges, the corresponding arms at the opposite sides of each plate being in substantiallythe same horizontal plane. The arms 6 are bent outward at a pronounced angle to the plate which carries them and are adapted to support the negatives, as shown in Fig. 1.

The rows of arms e are preferably formed by stamping them out of the plate and bending them to the proper position, and an open space is provided centrally of each plate into which the corners of the negatives may project when they are placed on the rack in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. To keep the negatives from tipping, shoulders f are provided, one above each arm 6 and in close proximity thereto, which shoulders engage the upper edges of the negatives and hold them in position, and the notches between the shoulders and the adjacent arms are tapered, so that negatives of difierent thicknesses are properly held in the rack and are prevented from tipping. The under side of each arm 6 is cut away, as shown in the drawings, in order to provide sufficient space for the insertion of the negatives without danger of scratching them. In order to better adapt the rack for holding negatives of different sizes, the central opening is made tapering, being narrower at the top than at the bottom, as shown in Fig. l, by which arrangement larger negatives maybe better supported at the bottom, while the small ones may be placed at the top.

In practice the negatives to be washed are placed in the rack, which is then placed in a bucket or other water-reservoir, and a stream of water is caused to flow through such reservoir until the washing is complete. The inclined position of the negatives permits a ready flow of the water over them, so that they arethoroughlyand quicklywashed. Afterthe washing is complete the rack is removed from the water and may be set up in a convenient place until the negatives are dry. By placing the negatives in the rack cornerwise, as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. l,they are held in an inclined position with one corner lowermost, which position best adapts them for drying, as the water is permitted to drain off the lower corner. If desired, however, the negatives may be placed squarely in the rack, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. If desired, one side of the rack only may be placed in the water for washing purposes, the rack being suspended on the edge of the water-reservoir by the connection at the top, and for drying purposes the rack may, if desired, be suspended by the top piece.

I prefer to make the rack of sheet metal and of a single piece, as shown in the drawings; but it may be built up of separate pieces, if desired, and may also be made of wire.

I do not restrict myself to a rack constructed as herein described, nor to one embodying all the features of the rack illustrated, as various modifications maybe made without departing from my invention.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, anegative-rack consisting of a plate having an openin g within its edges, and negative-supporting arms carried by said plate at opposite sides of said opening, said arms being integral with said plate, and being bent at substantially a right angle thereto, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shaped negative-rack consisting of two plates connected at the top, each of said plates having a tapered opening within its edges, said opening being Widest at the bottom, and negafive-supporting arms projecting from said plates, respectively, at opposite sides of said opening, substantially as described.

3. As a newarticle of manufacture, anegative-rack consisting of members a Z), and a spring connection 0 connecting said members at one end, said members each having arms 6 and shorter shoulders f above said arms, substantially as described.

4:. As a new article of manufacture, a negative-rack consisting of a plate having negative-supporting arms projecting therefrom and arranged in pairs adapted to support the negative, and a shorter shoulder above each of said arms, substantially as described.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a neg. tive-rack consisting of a plate having negative-supporting arms projecting therefrom and arranged in pairs adapted to support the negative, and a shoulder above and in proximity to each of said arms, the notch between each shoulder and the adjacent lower arm being tapered, substantially as described.

JOHN V. MEAKER, JR.

\Vitnesses:

GUY L. MEAKER, F. C. KNIGHT. 

